Use of Coal Wastes for the Production of Alumina

摘要

The primary resource for aluminum at the present time is bauxite. The United States has become more and more dependent on foreign sources for its supply of this strategic material because of its small bauxite resources, which are considered inadequate as a long-range supply. However, domestic low-grade aluminum resources, including coal waste, are considered unlimited. The development of a suitable method for using coal wastes will also alleviate their disposal problems. This report describes three methods of extracting alumina from domestic coal wastes using their carbon contents as a fuel and a reductant of silica contained therein.